Social media helping fight loneliness in the farming community

Farmers are finding a new following on social media – our research suggests it could help with isolation

In the wake of Brexit and an ongoing pandemic, farmers in the UK are experiencing high levels of isolation and loneliness, which prompted research looking at whether social media can help feelings of isolation for farmers.

In this piece in The Conversation, co-researcher Dr Bethany Robertson (School of Sociology and Social Policy) reveals the study's findings, which showed that social media provides farmers with a way of connecting to others and reaffirming positivity about their identity as a farmer.